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Itinerary for Feb 10 — Feb 16, 2015

Description: This charming mountain resort has the look and feel of a hacienda-- a feeling that is further enhanced by the property's large and well equiped horse stables. Accommodations are provided in bungalows and villas with views of the gardens and forested hillsides.

Day One: Tuesday, February 10 - Flights from the U.S. -
Arrivals in Liberia/T...

Flights from the U.S. -
Arrivals in Liberia/Transfer to Rincon de la Vieja/Exploring Forest Trails/Thermal Pools.

Note: The transfer from Liberia's international airport to the hotel in Rincon de la Vieja takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Unforeseen traffic and road conditions could affect the driving time. A final portion of the journey includes travel over a well-maintained gravel road.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Road Scholar sign (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Liberia.

Afternoon: Depart for your hotel in Rincon de la Vieja (the drive takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes).

Arrive at the hotel and check-in.
4:30 pm - Program Orientation at the hotel.

First Ramble (2,000 steps): Exploratory walk on forest trails in hotel environs. At the completion of your walk, enjoy a rejuvenating dip in the thermal pools.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.

Meals are prepared with fresh, locally grown, farmed or caught products from the areas where you will be staying. The fruit and vegetable selections are seasonal, and also produced within the regions where the hotels are located, in some cases, from the hotels’ gardens.

Description: This charming mountain resort has the look and feel of a hacienda-- a feeling that is further enhanced by the property's large and well equiped horse stables. Accommodations are provided in bungalows and villas with views of the gardens and forested hillsides.

Lunch: Enjoy a casual meal at the hotel's freshwater and thermal pool complex.

Afternoon: After lunch you will have some free time to relax before your next program activity.

Third Ramble (1,500 steps): Enjoy a walk along gently undulating trails to experience the magnificence of a Pacific sunset from a mirador (lookout point).

Time for refreshments and reflection.

Return to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.

Meals are prepared with fresh, locally grown, farmed or caught products from the areas where you will be staying. The fruit and vegetable selections are seasonal, and also produced within the regions where the hotels are located, in some cases, from the hotels’ gardens.

Description: This charming mountain resort has the look and feel of a hacienda-- a feeling that is further enhanced by the property's large and well equiped horse stables. Accommodations are provided in bungalows and villas with views of the gardens and forested hillsides.

Note: The moderately challenging walk to the waterfalls covers approximately 3 miles. Participants should wear hiking footwear as the trail is rugged and on an incline. Wear a bathing suit under your clothes so that you can enjoy a refreshing dip during your ramble to the local waterfalls.
Participants interested in enjoying spa treatments at the hotel during free time should make advance appointments. Spa services are at an additional cost.

Breakfast: Optional early morning stretching exercises and dip in the thermal pools.

Participants wishing to skip this activity are welcome to remain at the hotel to enjoy a relaxing morning before rejoining the group for lunch.

Return to the hotel.

Lunch: At the hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon will be at your leisure for independent explorations (at own expense). Optional activities include horseback riding, canopy zip line, forest exploration on ATVs or off road vehicles, and spa treatments.

Join your group leader and fellow participants for a pre-dinner presentation by a local speaker with a sundowner and reflections. Lecture: The Borinquen Project.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.

Meals are prepared with fresh, locally grown, farmed or caught products from the areas where you will be staying. The fruit and vegetable selections are seasonal, and also produced within the regions where the hotels are located, in some cases, from the hotels’ gardens.

Description: Hotel Sugar Beach is located on the beautiful, secluded Playa Pan de Azucar Beach on Costa Rica's nothern Pacific coast. The property can accommodate up to 80 guests in comfortable lodgings including rooms, suites and beach casitas. Guests arriving or departing from the international airport in Liberia can drive to and from the hotel within 1.5 hours (San Jose is approximately 5 hours).

Morning: After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and depart for Santa Rosa National Park. Upon arrival, enjoy an interpretive drive into one of the last tropical dry forests in the world.

Santa Rosa National Park is located along the country's northwestern coast in the Santa Elena Peninsula. The park owes its name to a famous battle that took place in the area during the mid 1800s. Although the park was initially created in an effort to honor and protect the historical battle grounds, the national park has played an important role in helping to safeguard important habitats and endangered species.

Fifth Ramble (5,000 steps): Take part in an interpretive walk along trails in the dry forest. Your walk will culminate at "La Casona," a historic hacienda with ties to the country's fight for independence. A site lecture will recount the three battles that were fought in and around La Casona and review their contribution to the independence of Costa Rica.

Depart for Playa Pan de Azucar.

Lunch: At a local restaurant en route.

Afternoon: Arrive at Playa Pan de Azucar and check-in at hotel.

Sixth Ramble (1,500 steps): Stretch your legs during a short ramble along the beautiful crescent beach in front of the hotel.

Return to the hotel to change and freshen-up before driving to nearby Tamarindo town for dinner. The drive usually takes between 45 minutes to an hour.

Dinner: On your own to explore dining opportunities at Tamarindo. Transportation to a selection of restaurants will be provided for your convenience.

The laidback beach town on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is a popular destination for beach goers, nature lovers, and surfers from around the globe. Tamarindo offers a wide range of dining options, from small cafés and casual seafood joints, to restaurants featuring sophisticated international cuisine.

Description: Hotel Sugar Beach is located on the beautiful, secluded Playa Pan de Azucar Beach on Costa Rica's nothern Pacific coast. The property can accommodate up to 80 guests in comfortable lodgings including rooms, suites and beach casitas. Guests arriving or departing from the international airport in Liberia can drive to and from the hotel within 1.5 hours (San Jose is approximately 5 hours).

Note: The beach walk will cover a distance of approximately 3 miles. Please remember to stay hydrated, wear lightweight/loose clothing, apply sunscreen, and wear a hat.
Wear a bathing suit under your clothes in case you wish to take a swim at the beach after your morning walk.

Breakfast: Optional early morning stretching exercises and dip in the thermal pools.

Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

Morning: Transfer to Brasilito Beach in preparation for this morning's walk.

Seventh Ramble (6,000 steps): Enjoy an energizing morning walk along the beach. A site lecture will address the human and natural history of the region and its record as a Blue Zone for longevity.

Return to the hotel to change clothes and freshen up.

Lunch: At the hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: Transfer to the Flamingo area.

Enjoy an afternoon boat ride along the coast with snorkeling, culminating with a sundowner on the water.

Description: Hotel Sugar Beach is located on the beautiful, secluded Playa Pan de Azucar Beach on Costa Rica's nothern Pacific coast. The property can accommodate up to 80 guests in comfortable lodgings including rooms, suites and beach casitas. Guests arriving or departing from the international airport in Liberia can drive to and from the hotel within 1.5 hours (San Jose is approximately 5 hours).

Day Seven: Monday, February 16 - Departures -
Transfer to Liberia/Fly back to...

Note: The drive from Playa Pan de Azucar to the international airport in Liberia takes approximately 90 minutes.

Breakfast: At the hotel (dependent on flight times).

Morning: Transfer to the international airport in Liberia to check-in for flights back to the U.S.

This concludes the program. We hope you enjoyed your Road Scholar adventure! When you get home, remember to stay in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network; share memories, pictures, and comments about your recent travels.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!